LARGO, Md. - The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment removing NW Systems Inc., Nathan Williams and Jesus Rivera as fiduciaries of the NW Systems Inc. 401(k) plan and appointing GTrust Financial Partners, of Topeka, Kan., as an independent fiduciary with authority to administer the plan.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $391,539 National Emergency Grant to assist Arkansas with clean-up and recovery efforts after the severe winter storm that struck the state Dec. 25-26, 2012.

"The destruction caused by this severe storm affected lives throughout the state of Arkansas," said Jane Oates, assistant secretary of labor for employment and training. "There is a great deal of recovery work to be done, and the Labor Department is committed to helping Arkansans rebuild their communities."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2 million National Emergency Grant to assist Mississippi with cleanup and recovery efforts in the wake of recent storms, tornadoes and flooding.

"This Labor Department grant will provide a lifeline to people who need work and a paycheck while allowing them to begin rebuilding their communities," said acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris. "Investments like this strengthen communities by assisting in their recovery and putting local workers back on the job."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $5,192,500 National Emergency Grant to assist workers and their families impacted by layoffs at coal mining companies in eastern Kentucky. This funding will provide re-employment services not only for miners who are laid off but for their spouses who have been homemakers and are, due to the loss of wages, seeking to enter the workforce to support their families.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded a $1,263,339 National Emergency Grant increment to continue employment-related services for more than 360 workers affected by layoffs in the commonwealth of Massachusetts from 12 companies, four of which provided staffing to the other eight.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration today announced final rules under the Affordable Care Act to protect workers and employers whose health benefits are provided through Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements. The final rules increase the department's enforcement authority to protect participants in MEWAs and call for such plans to adhere to enhanced filing requirements.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $32 million through two grant competitions that will offer job training, education and support services to formerly incarcerated youths and women.

Investigation found violations of Federal Railroad Safety Act whistleblower provisions

WASHINGTON — Carol Pier, acting deputy undersecretary for the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs, today announced that George Achibra of Ghana has won the department's 2012 Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor. U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Gene A. Cretz presented the award to Achibra at a ceremony in Accra.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration today announced final rules under the Affordable Care Act to protect workers and employers whose health benefits are provided through Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements. The final rules increase the department's enforcement authority to protect participants in MEWAs and call for such plans to adhere to enhanced filing requirements.

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit in federal court to restore $79,761.61 to the Hico Flex Brass Co. Inc. 401(k) plan. The suit alleges that the company, as well as former vice president Mark Isaacs and president Neil Isaacs, violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by failing to distribute plan assets to participants.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics has released a report titled "Characteristics of Minimum Wage Workers: 2012." The report shows that 75.3 million workers in the United States age 16 and over were paid at hourly rates, representing 59 percent of all wage and salary workers. Among those paid by the hour, 1.6 million earned exactly the prevailing federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. About 2 million had wages below the federal minimum.

Company placed in OSHAs Severe Violator Enforcement Program

MINNEAPOLIS – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Highway Technologies Inc. in Minneapolis for 10 safety – including six willful – violations after a worker died from injuries sustained while working with equipment that came into contact with overhead power lines on I-94 near Menomonie, Wis.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has reached a settlement that provides for payment of more than $34 million to compensate employee benefit plans for losses suffered through investments in funds managed by Austin Capital Management, which indirectly invested in Bernard L. Madoff’s Ponzi scheme. The agreement follows an earlier settlement with Austin Capital’s parent company, KeyCorp, for more than $9 million. Recoveries from both settlements total more than $43 million for plan investors in funds managed by Austin Capital.      

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs is rescinding two enforcement guidance documents on pay discrimination originally issued in 2006, commonly known as the "Compensation Standards" and "Voluntary Guidelines."This action, to be effective Feb. 28, is intended to protect workers and strengthen OFCCP's ability to identify and remedy different forms of pay discrimination.

Date of Action: Feb. 19, 2013

Type of Action: Default judgment

Names of Defendant: Keith Davis

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration will host two free webcasts for small business owners on retirement savings plans as part of America Saves Week.

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has published an interim final rule in the Federal Register that governs whistleblower complaints filed under Section 1558 of the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act contains various provisions to make health insurance more affordable and accountable to consumers.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending February 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 362,000, an increase of 20,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 342,000. The 4-week moving average was 360,750, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised average of 352,750.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has reached a settlement with the Cleveland-based Sherwin-Williams Co. that will provide $80 million to current and past participants of its Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan. The agreement is the result of an investigation by the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration into whether Sherwin-Williams, seeking to take advantage of tax breaks, improperly managed the plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The settlement also requires Illinois-based GreatBanc Trust Co.